Vintage Orpheus Tuba • Kyiv, USSR • 1984 • Key C/E♭ • Coded No. 1337 • New Old Stock

Experimental Wind & Percussion Instruments Factory “Orpheus”, Kyiv • Original Soviet brass tuba • Museum-grade survivor from the 1980s

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A rare survivor from the last decades of the USSR

You are looking at a very rare example of Soviet brass craftsmanship — an Orpheus (Orfej) tuba in C/E♭, produced in 1984 in Kyiv. The instrument is more than 40 years old, yet it has the character of a piece that never really left the factory: the valves are still tight, the lacquered brass has a deep, honest glow, and there are no signs of long playing.

The bell bears the factory mark and a coded number “1337”. At the Orpheus factory such numbers were not simple running serials: they usually combined information about the production period (quarter, month) and even the workshop or shift that assembled and finished the instrument. In other words, 1337 is part of the internal manufacturing code rather than “tuba number 1337”.

Orpheus factory — a Kyiv legend that no longer exists

The Experimental Wind & Percussion Instruments Factory “Orpheus” in Kyiv was one of the notable wind-instrument makers of the Soviet Union in the 1960s–1980s. Its trumpets, trombones, horns and tubas were supplied to orchestras all over the USSR and were often compared in quality to popular Central European brands such as Amati.

Production volumes were relatively small; each instrument passed through the hands of a finishing master. In the turbulent 1990s the factory closed, the equipment was dispersed and the Orpheus name disappeared from new instruments. That is why a tuba in New Old Stock condition today is almost a museum-level find.

Technical details

• Key: C / E♭ (original factory specification; practical range approx. from contra-A to B♭ in the first octave).
• Material: brass with classic Soviet lacquered finish.
• Bell diameter: 41 cm.
• Instrument height: approx. 86 cm.
• Width: approx. 49 cm.
• Instrument weight: about 5.2 kg.
• Parcel weight: about 7 kg.
• Parcel size: 90 × 40 × 50 cm.
• Manufacturer: Experimental Wind & Percussion Instruments Factory “Orpheus”, Kyiv, USSR.
• Year of production: 1984 (late Soviet era).
• Original Soviet retail price: 160 rubles for the tuba + 35 rubles for the case (total 195 rubles). For context, a leading engineer at an aircraft or machine-building plant earned about 120 rubles per month, so this tuba was a serious investment.

Condition

• New Old Stock: by mechanical feel and appearance the tuba has not been used as a working instrument.
• Valves and linkage are still tight and will need first lubrication and gentle playing-in by a professional technician.
• There are two very small, hardly visible dents, most likely from decades of storage and moving between shelves.
• Brass shows a natural light patina of age without over-polishing or amateur repair.
• All factory stamps and the original paper label with maintenance instructions are preserved.
• Please study all photos carefully — they form part of the description.

Original case

The tuba comes with its original Soviet hard case made of quality leatherette (artificial leather) with a soft lining. From a collector’s point of view the case itself is not very special, but it is a nice period accessory and still works for storage and shipping.

The case shows light wear from age — small scuffs and one missing rivet on the shoulder-strap attachment. These issues are minor and do not affect its ability to protect the instrument during transport. In any case, a tuba of this level clearly deserves a modern high-grade leather case, which the future owner can choose to add.

Who is this tuba for?

• A professional tubist or orchestra looking for a rare Soviet concert tuba that can be brought to full playing condition after a proper check-up and set-up.
• A collector of Soviet or Eastern European brass instruments and fans of the Orpheus brand.
• Anyone who wants a statement piece for a home, studio, office, music room or lobby — a large golden tuba always draws the eye and starts conversations.

I am not a professional musician, but I am sure of one thing: passing this tuba to the right person means giving an entire era a second life.

Shipping

• Ships from Ukraine via Ukrposhta International.
• Typical transit time is about 12–21 days, depending on destination and customs processing.
• The instrument will be packed very carefully with extra protection for the bell and valve section.

Returns & customs policy

• No routine returns. This is a large vintage musical instrument sold AS IS as a collectible item.
• In the rare case when a return is required by eBay rules, the buyer is fully and exclusively responsible for:
  • all costs of new packing materials and return shipping to Ukraine;
  • all transportation risks during the return shipment;
  • all customs duties, taxes, VAT and import fees that may arise on the return shipment in both directions;
• Any refund (if applicable under eBay rules) will be issued only after the tuba is received back, carefully inspected and confirmed to be in the exact same original condition as before shipping.
• For the original shipment, the buyer pays all customs duties, VAT, taxes and import fees in the destination country. Customs delays are possible; the seller is not responsible for customs processing times or any additional charges.
• By placing an order you confirm that you have carefully read the description and the store policies and that you agree with these conditions.

Old things are the best things. History has already proved it. I have nothing left to prove.